Kashmir shuts down after JKLF strike call

Normal life in Kashmir was disrupted on Monday with shops and business establishments remaining closed in many places due to a strike called by separatist Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

The strike call was supported by the High Court Bar Association and both factions of Hurriyat Conference.

While public transport remained off the roads, few private cars could be seen plying on the roads in the city and other major towns of the Valley.

Though most of the educational institutions remained closed, colleges remained open in view of the university examinations.

JKLF had on December 3 called for a general strike on the International Human Rights Day commemorated worldwide on Monday to protest against life imprisonment awarded to two of its senior leaders by a TADA court in Jammu.

A JKLF spokesman said all the top leaders of the pro-independence group, including Yasin Malik, are sitting on a hunger strike near the group's headquarter in Maisuma locality in Srinagar.

"The hunger strike is going on as planned and the torch protests and candle-light march will be held in the evening," he said.